News
Local

West Perth’s 150th celebration a financial success, too

Canada’s Sesquicentennial was an event worth celebrating, and West Perth did just that.

One of the few municipalities in the region to make our country’s 150th birthday a true celebration, the West Perth 150th co-ordinating committee held a wrap-up meeting last Wednesday, Sept. 6 where it was reported that the event was not only a success based on the participation and feedback from the residents of the municipality, but financially as well.

CAO Jeff Brick reported that just short of $57,000 was generated as profit from the weekend-long celebration June 29-July 1 in both Keterson Park and Lions Park in Mitchell, primarily thanks to the efforts of various donors who contributed financially to either the weekend events or to the legacy project, a pavilion/band shell to be built in Lions Park next spring.

“If you go back to the first meeting we had we had some pictures of what went on in 1967 and we wanted to create an event,” said Mayor Walter McKenzie. “Really, all we wanted to do is create an event that people will remember, and I think we did. We were very successful. It was a memorable weekend and I want to thank everyone that was involved.”

Mayor McKenzie singled out Committee Chair Pat Taylor and Cheri Bell, chair of the entertainment committee, for their extra efforts as well as Brick and the municipal staff for all the paper work behind the scenes.

“All the mayor did was have a Levee,” he said with a laugh.

“I want to extend our thanks for all who made it happen,” Taylor said, who read two pieces of correspondence received after the event from Blythe and Fran Lannin, and Clare and Joanne French, praising the efforts of the committee for a job well done.

“I think people were happy that West Perth did something, there were very few people around that made the effort that we made,” said Taylor.

Brick said the committee had a terms of reference and by looking back and reading it, “not many committees can say they hit the terms of reference on the money…but we did.”

The committee wanted to “ascribe to promote or deliver events which provide opportunities for West Perth residents and visitors to celebrate Canada’s Sesquicentennial in this community, deliver memorable events which engage the community…and leave a legacy.”

The overall expenses was listed at $29,320, almost half of which was for the fireworks on Friday, June 30. Thanks to title sponsor McNain TV, the majority of that cost was covered.

“We need to thank our sponsors especially McNain TV because the fireworks was a huge success,” said Bell. “We don’t mention all our sponsors enough, big and little ones because it all adds up. Sofina and the Lions, too.”

The committee raved about the popularity of the fireworks, saying many received positive comments from the public for weeks afterward.

Thanks to donations from almost 30 different individuals, businesses and corporations, more than $27,500 was raised which almost offset entirely the expenses.

The municipality had set aside $5,000 for four years for the 150th, so that $20,000 will be used for the legacy project, and added with the specific donations to the pavilion and major $10,000 donations from both Sofina Foods and the Mitchell Lions Club, there will almost be enough funds left to complete it.

Brick went on to explain that the legacy project, known as the Sofina Foods Family Pavilion in Lions Park, still needs a grading plan as well as some final tweaking of the design, before tenders can be issued later this fall.

The $57,000 will, in all likelihood, be enough to build the pavilion but Brick is guessing it might come in a little low “but with flexibility in timing it might get us a better price,” he said.

Initial plans were to have the pavilion built before the July 1 celebration, or later this fall, but the tenders will be called with a target completion date of next June, Brick said. An official ribbon-cutting celebration will be planned for July 1, 2018 hopefully in conjunction with the Rotary Club’s annual Canada Day event – or Canada’s 151st birthday.